Italian Driving Lessons

The idea was to avoid the labyrinth of Naples by travelling on the freeway to Sorrento. It was a good idea in theory but the guidebook didn't mention anything about the mechanics of the toll system.  We went flying through the place to get "billettos" when we first entered the freeway. When it was needed at the toll booth to compute the amount we owed, we sat with the arm down and little voice saying something in Italian to us over a speaker. We put in our MasterCard and were charged $120. Live and learn I guess.

The whole day today has been difficult.  The traffic on the mountainous road to Sorrento was bumper to bumper. Poor Laurie was changing gears every two minutes. Officially the road is exactly two lanes wide, no sidewalk, no parking. People on scooters and motorcycles were using the centre line as another lane, zipping in and out of busses letting passengers off, looky-loos who were parking half in the lane while they ogled the stunning views over the cliff edge. Cyclists were making better time going uphill than we were.

Hotel Michaelangelo - our current home

When we got to Sorrento the difficulties mounted as the numbering on the buildings was screwy and of course there were no road name signs. We finally found the hotel that we had booked with the travel agent.  However they were very sorry but they had made a mistake and other guests had our room for another night.  They had booked us in a very nice four star hotel closer to the centre of town. This is where we are now sipping very expensive gin and tonics.




Sorrento is an old town perched on the edge of the cliff high above the ocean. It seems like half of Italy is here enjoying their summer vacation. That would account for the heavy traffic. I had thought we were coming to a small town to relax for three days.

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The only "beach" around are private docks anchored to the base of the cliffs.
.At least we had a nice seafood lunch. I indulged myself tonight by buying clothes for my grandsons.Tomorrow we will find the laundromat and try to catch up on our laundry and we have tickets for an evening of opera arias.